Lead plating of metals



Patented Jan 18, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LEAD Harms or METALS.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to the art of lead plating metals, and more particularly ferrous metals, such as iron or steel, and has for its object to provide a method whereby b metals may be rapidly, cheaply and effectively lead plated.

I have discovered that metals, and particularly ferrous metals such as iron and steel, after suitable cleaning of impurities and u) oxides from their surfaces, can be coated with lead by directly welding or burning the lead to the metal with an oxyhydrogen flame, in which flame there is enough hydrogen above what is necessary for combustion to prevent l the surface of the metal from becoming oxidized, that is, the oxyhydrogen flame must be one in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H O.

In the practice of my invention, I first thoroughly clean the surface by pickling or in any other suitable manner, and with a blow-pipe in one hand and a chemical lead bar in the other I apply the lead to the surface of the metal and simultaneously subject said surface and the lead to the action of an oxyh drogen flame from the blow-pipe, in which ame the proportion of hydrogen to oxide is in excess of what is necessary to support combustion, that is, is in excess of the ratio H O.

By this action the molten lead is either alloyed to or becomes so closely adherent to the metal that it forms a perfect bond therewith. This results in a preliminary coating and if a thicker coating is desired the same may be added by the ordinary process of welding or burning the lead thereon.

I have found that no flux is necessary to obtain a coatingof lead on iron or steel, or other metals, but when its use is not prevented by other considerations, a-n alloy of lead andantimony may be used to obtain a faster welding.

- It will be perceived'that one of-the decided advantagesof m process resides in the fact that no special ap aratus is required, bther than a suitable low-pipe su plied with oxyhydrogen gas in which the ydro- Application filed October 25, 1926. Serial No. 144,180.

gen is in excess of what is necessary to support combustion. What is claimed is l. The method of lead coating metals which consists in simultaneously subjecting the metal surface to be coated and the lead to the action of an oxhydrogen flame in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H O. I

2. The method of lead coating metals which consists in applying a bar of chemical lead to the surface to be coated and simultaneously subjecting the lead and metal surface'at the point of contact-to the action of an oxyhydrogen flame in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H O.

3. The method of lead coating metals which consists in simultaneously heating the metal surface and flowing molten lead thereover under the action of an oxyhydrogen flame in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H O.

4. The method of lead coating iron and steel surfaces which consists in cleaning the surface, subjecting the cleaned surface to the action of an oxyhydrogen flame, in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H 0, and simultaneously meltin lead onto said surface by the action of t e same flame.

5. The method of lead coating ferrous surfaces which consists in simultaneousl heating the ferrous surface and melting t e lead while in contact therewith by the action of an oxyhydrogen flame in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H 0.

6. The method of lead coating ferrous surfaces which consists in simultaneously heating theferrous surface and melting lead in the presence of antimony while in contact withthe ferrous surface by the action of an oxyhydrogen flame in which the hydrogen exceeds the ratio H 0. 7

7. The process of coating metal articles with lead which consists in welding the load to the metal by means of an oxyhydro en flame in which flame there is sresent I1 drogen in excess of the ratio H, 95

In testimonywhereof I have signed this specification. a

WILLIAM R. DICKENS 1 V 

